Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, is more than just the grand Sadya it’s a living cultural tapestry woven with centuries-old traditions that bring communities alive. While Onam Sadya, a vegetarian feast on banana leaves, remains central, it's the vibrant rituals beyond the plate that truly animate the festival.

During Pulikali (Tiger Dance), performers paint themselves in elaborate tiger-striped hues and prowl through the streets in sync with drum beats, adding fierce energy and folklore to the celebrations. Equally captivating, Kummattikali features masked dancers wearing colorful wooden masks depicting mythological characters who move from home to home, entertaining and collecting tokens of appreciation.

Kerala’s backwaters roar with life during Vallamkali the iconic snake boat races where long, ornately decorated boats glide through rivers in rhythmic competition and song. Complementing these, Onathallu, a martial art-inspired dance of mock combat, unfolds in parts of Thrissur and Malabar reflecting the warrior traditions of the land.

Together with folk songs, flower carpets (Pookalams), and traditional dances, these rituals elevate Onam from a harvest feast to a dynamic celebration of Kerala’s artistic soul.